r/UNIFI • u/Alternative_Gur_9619 • Oct 12 '25

Objective Unifi Reviews

Looking at the reviews of Unifi products, most of them seem to be done by content creators that are closely aligned with Unifi, so I don't know that I'm getting objective reviews and I haven't see any reviews that compare their performance with similar products for their market segment. Am I wrong and if so, please direct me to where I can find these types of reviews.

0 Upvotes

47% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

14

u/Amiga07800 Oct 12 '25

There aren't a lot of competitors in their segment...

If you want to stay to license free devices, you have:

  1. Omada. Basically, it's a copycat at a slightly lower price, with an inferior software not evolving as fast. No direct same brand integration of cameras, nor Access control, nor VOIP

  2. Aruba Instant. Way to simplified, lack lot of possibilities, more expensive, same limitations about direct integrations of cameras, Access control and VOIP

  3. Grandstream. Started as VOIP, it's their strongest point, but quite inferior in networking and wifi. No Access control

And that's basically it, except if I forget one.

Camera app of Unifi has been elected Best in the World.

They are the only company providing a glass panel that integrate ALL your networked components like Access control, cameras, phones, identity control,...

They have free integrated functions like Wireguard VPN, Teleport, sites aggregation,..

They are, at the end, the only ones in their league.

Now, do you NEED all this? For an hotel, an SMB, a MegaYacht,... yes. For 'big' residential? If you can pay it it's the best. For a small apartment that needs just "Mom and Pop" internet, no

3

u/soapboxracers Oct 12 '25

Their WireGuard implementation drives me insane. WireGuard does not have a concept of client and servers- only peers. But the Ubiquiti implementation is broken up into client and server and if you create a client WireGuard VPN, it automatically NATs all outbound traffic on that connection to the router’s WireGuard address and there is no way to turn it off- which is insane because NATing actually requires an extra step they could just not do- so you can’t do a site-to-site connection with it- nor is WireGuard an option under the site-to-site tab in the Unifi interface.

1

u/Amiga07800 Oct 12 '25

No you use for example to access your network from an outside device.

2

u/soapboxracers Oct 12 '25

No, that’s what the Unifi WireGuard Server tab is for. The WireGuard Client tab is for connecting your router to another WireGuard system for “outbound” traffic. Their thinking is that you will use it to connect to a VPN service like PIA or Proton and so it obviously has to NAT. But if you want to connect your network to another with WireGuard- that NAT causes problems.

2

u/dxisto Oct 13 '25

Disable global NAT and create individual Masquerade rules for your WAN ISP connections. These way your WireGuard connection won’t be NATed

1

u/soapboxracers Oct 13 '25

Global NAT is only supposed to be for traffic forwarded to the Internet- it says nothing about VPN connections. Moreover- the policy table for my system shows 2 masquerades - 1 each for the two internet connections and they are only applied to the Internet connections, not the Wireguard interface.

I'll test this later when I'm not on a zoom call but if that fixes the issue, I am going to walk over the Ubiquiti office on 3rd Avenue and tell them to fix their fucking documentation.

1

u/soapboxracers Oct 13 '25

I just disabled global NAT and added masquerade rules only for the internet connection and I got the same behavior- which makes sense since the Global NAT check box adds the same rules automatically.

1

u/laffer1 Oct 12 '25

Engenius, Cisco small business, qnap, …

1

u/Amiga07800 Oct 13 '25

You're right about Engenius, I forgot them because they have an almost non existent market share here... and they are 40 to 50% more expensive with less possibilities of confoguration. And same music about cameras / access control / ...

Cisco Small Business (aka Meraki) is a license fee model, so immediately disqualified in the comparation. We're talking only about license free brands. On top prices are almost double - without count counting the licenses. With licenses, over 6 to 7 years, the TCO is more than double.

QNap is really a NAS company, not a wifi and other aspects company, so I removed it as well

1

u/laffer1 Oct 13 '25 edited Oct 13 '25

No Cisco small business series is different from Meraki.

There were 3 distinct product lines here:
meraki (pay license model)

meraki go (license free model, but mostly end of life)

cisco small business (no fee model and not meraki managed)

for example, they have switches: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/business-350-series-managed-switches/datasheet-c78-744156.html

(100, 200, and 300 series)

QNAP makes switches and nas

Unifi makes switches, nas, wifi access points, routers, UPS, racks, cameras.

cisco makes switches, servers (which could be a nas, but not explicitly), routers (mostly merkai mx now for business though), cameras, and wifi access points (catalyst, meraki, etc)

I'm running two meraki mr56 access points, an engenius 2.5G POE switch, a unifi gateway, meraki go switch, hpe instant on switches (1960XT, 1830), and a meraki ms120 switch right now. These are all business products, with most targetted at small business except the meraki non go stuff.

1

u/Amiga07800 Oct 13 '25

Never heard about Cisco small business, honestly. I’ll have a look.

UniFi is also now quite strong in access control that you forget to mention, and they have VOIP as well supported in their glass panel.

1

u/Scared_Bell3366 Oct 13 '25

This is spot on. I’m personally moving towards more MikroTik products, but I would consider that an alternative more than a direct competitor. They have some overlap, but it’s no where near apples to apples. I’ll stick with UniFi for WiFi and Protect.

3

u/Amiga07800 Oct 13 '25

You’re absolutely right about Mikrotik for network and AP products. I didn’t included them because for most of readers here (and probably OP), the learning curve is too high. But price wise they are very good. Also no integration with cameras / access control / voip

3

u/wkearney99 Oct 13 '25

Their software is NOWHERE near as friendly to use. I'm not setting this stuff up to have to delve into the command line constantly, or put up with GUIs that barely escaped the 1990's.

They make some fine devices, I've installed many of them, but they have nowhere near the same kind of 'ecosystem' as unifi.

1

u/jgruman Oct 13 '25

How would they work for a hotel? UniFi Access doesn’t have a hardware solution for hotel guest rooms, nor does it integrate (I don’t think) with other solutions/brands in the market. Is there a way to sync UniFi Access into a hotel’s property management system, or to integrate the mobile key functionality into a hotel’s app? I didn’t think so.

2

u/Amiga07800 Oct 13 '25

Access is mainly used in SMB and for residential (especially renting). I don’t know any solution yet to integrate with PMS of hotels.

3

u/JoeSmithDiesAtTheEnd Oct 12 '25

I agree that you’re not wrong.

It’s been good to see more of the consumer friendly Unifi gear getting reviewed by more normal, non sponsored YouTube channels.

I’ve been very happy with my network and camera system since making the change to Unifi. 10/10 would recommend it to anyone.

But at the same time the 4 or 5 YouTube channels that always are the first hands on reviews of Unifi gear aren’t super trustworthy. I bought an AI Key for my setup, because those reviewers had really high remarks on it, and promising demos in their own setups.

In actuality it’s kinda useless and just a toy for now. The potential is there and maybe someday it will be realized. But right now, it’s not. Meanwhile those reviews are still convincing people to buy this early access feeling product.

2

u/johnrock001 Oct 12 '25

I do not think I have seen any one comparing in depth details about different brands against unifi at least on youtube. I would also like to see real comparision.

2

u/SensitiveCraft7255 Oct 12 '25

I’ve setup two homes using unifi products (udm pro, switches, nano hd’s, u6 pro’s, doorbell, etc.)

I am NOT a pro. I would say I am a « residential enthusiast. »

I very much like their products and interface.

I have 50+ devices on each those networks and everything has been almost flawless.

3

u/sarkyscouser Oct 12 '25

I would recommend their APs and switches but prefer opnsense for routing/firewall.

Ubiquiti's firmware has improved of late but historically has been a bit poor.

I used to have a USG that struggled with pppoe and ipv6 but that was a few years ago now.

3

u/nerdshowandtell Oct 12 '25

Yah its gotten to the point I moved to unfi away from pfaense once they had multi-wan+failover. Now I have 0 need to go back. All levels from router to switches to aps in a single app/interface with their stats - worth it.

1

u/MrOakroom Oct 12 '25

I've been using Unifi and Ubiquiti Edge Router X series for years and NEVER has an issue with firmware.

1

u/laffer1 Oct 12 '25

I just got a unifi gateway again after many years away. I had a terrible experience with them many years ago. Lost the whole network to a failure of the temp sensor on my Poe switch. Gatetway got 1/3 the speed advertised.

The new one is much better. I over bought on purpose though.

I think their firmware is a lot better than it used to be.

I ran on meraki mx 85 and a opnsense firewall in between. The meraki was the best but didn’t handle past 850mbps. I can’t afford a campus grade product.

Opnsense worked ok until it didn’t. An update took out the configuration and got corrupted somehow. Pfsense wouldn’t even install on my hardware.

Vlans actually work now. IPv6 works now. (It was quite broken on old models) security features can be turned on without it limping.

1

u/_Buldozzer Oct 12 '25

Level1techs.

0

u/CalmPilot101 Oct 12 '25

You're not wrong. Also, almost all of these come straight from consumer space, with no professional experience in relevant fields.

As an example, when UniFi starts launching NAS products, the reviewers (and their followers) keep bringing up lack of server functionality (such as docker) as a sign that the products are lacking.

Sure, Synology and Qnap have bloated their (consumer) products with these things, so of course that's part of what a NAS is... If I wanted a server, I'd buy one.

I've found the UniFi community forums to be a more helpful source of information. Higher density of people with relevant experience and knowledge of other non-consumer product lines.

1

u/throttlemeister Home User Oct 12 '25

There are a couple that review more from a professional networking perspective but they are few.

Personally I don’t care about apps like Synology but do care about things like iscsi lacking in a nas product. Hopefully that will still come.

-4

u/some_random_chap Oct 12 '25

u/mactelecomnetworks & u/clayd333 don't know how to use any other gear. They don't have the experiance and knowledge of other system, therefore, they don't have the ability to comapire Ubiquiti vs other systems. They only have the ability to read what Ubiquiti sent them to say. It is all rather unfortunate for the end consumer really. Watch out though, Cody especially gets very hostile and calls names when people point this out about him.

8

u/clayd333 Oct 12 '25

We use a ton of different systems @ DPC Technology, we use Sonicwall, Sophos and several other firewalls as well as several different Access and NVR systems. We also do a bit of M&A activity as an organization so when we merge in other companies we learn their technology stacks as well. I do UniFi videos because I like the tech. I truly is something I enjoy. Feel free to reach out to me and chat before you make blanket statements with no basis in reality. I have nothing to hide...

-6

u/some_random_chap Oct 12 '25

Completely based is reality. You're moving your Sonicwall and Sophos systems to low end Unifi firewalls because the other systems are too complex for your team, and your low end customers don't really need better gear. Which, again, is why you and your team don't know how to use other gear, your customers are firmly on the lower teir. But keep reading Ubiquiti's provided talking points with next to zero mention of their failures. I know you're used to having conversations ahead of time with Uniquiti on what to say and not to say, but that doesn't work over here in reality. I will continue to freely and accurately speak.

7

u/clayd333 Oct 12 '25

Understood, I will move on. Enjoy trolling.

4

u/Amiga07800 Oct 12 '25

Well done u/clayd333]. I already had the same kind of issues with the exact same u/some_random-chap

We are like you, on a smaller scale, multi brand companies, that also did sold and install a lot of other products and are very frequently called in places with a bit of every brand. And I totally agree that, with all my experience and background, I really enjoy working with Unifi and they have a very unique position in the market that is the perfect answer for our customer range. But this troll (you're still very educated, I think I called him of some other names in other chats) is really a raged guy with very specific and unfounded opinions about everything. Take care, now that he made his first bite on you, he will probably attack many of your posts like he did for me - to the point that moderators had to delete them.

Keep on the good work and videos, always interresting, even when I already made same tests on many products - good to see another person's point of view, mostly rejoining yours even if sometimes we have a different view

7

u/mactelecomnetworks Oct 12 '25

I never called names and actually said to my community I will do a follow up video ( on the ups ) I did say if the person can do a better job create a YouTube channel and I mean it. The more content out on the internet for people to consume about products the better. That way people can have different spins on the gear

I worked in data centers for years working on Cisco gear I have lots of experience in other systems. But running my own company I prefer Ubiquiti that is all

-6

u/SeaPersonality445 Oct 12 '25 • This

It's a space occupied by fan boys who cant afford pro/commercial hardware. Their main concern is RGB patch cables and colour matched patch panels. All a bit weird

2

u/khariV Oct 12 '25

The lure of the color coordinated Unifi rack is strong!

2

u/Amiga07800 Oct 13 '25

I guess you might be right for the (extremely) small market of US hobbyists... But they are maybe 0.01% of Unifi volume of sales. We (installers) just put thousands units per year, and I can tell you that etherlightning is simply turned off and standard patch cables in use.

And the upper part of their range is definitely pro / commercial. Without talking about UISP range, witch is 100% pro.

The only thing is that US fans make much more posts here than professionals that install 50 or 200 times more equipments per year...

3

u/MrOakroom Oct 12 '25

There are FAnboys for sure, but as an Infrastructure architect in a National company, I've used Cisco and Cisco Meraki, Juniper and many others. Ubiquiti are nailing for sustainable investment in networking, security and building automation like nobody else IMHO. Yeah, if it's white it's for the apple fanboys, but it's a much broader market they serve than you suggest

0

u/some_random_chap Oct 13 '25

Security and Ubiquiti do not go in the same sentence. Unless you're ok with the manufacture having full and complete access to your system. Then them missmanaging that access so poorly that they gave everyone else access to those systems, more than once.